Mack Trucks is partnering with colleges in Florida, Ohio and Texas to offer the Diesel Advanced Technology Education (DATE) program beginning in early 2019 to address a shortage of skilled vehicle service technicians.

Students enrolled in the 500-hour program will be trained to work on Mack trucks, including powertrains, electrical and electronic systems, chassis components and software and engine diagnosis and repair.

“Modern truck technology offers many benefits to customers, but it also requires advanced skills for maintenance and repair,” said Roy Walton, senior manager of aftermarket training for Mack Trucks. “The DATE program will help our dealer network address the severe shortage of technicians qualified to work in this highly technical field.”

The DATE curriculum will be taught by dedicated OEM-certified instructors at Jones Technical Institute in Jacksonville, Fla; the University of Northwestern Ohio in Lima, Ohio; and  Western Technical College in El Paso, Texas. Graduates of the program will receive an associate's degree in diesel mechanics and a certification from the DATE program. They will be prepared for immediate employment at any of hundreds of Mack Trucks dealerships across the United States, Canada, Mexico and other international locations.

According to an October 2017 report by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), trucking will require an estimated 67,000 new technicians as well as 75,000 new diesel engine specialists by 2022.

For more information, visit www.macktrucks.com.

This story also appears on Truck and Trailer Guide.